Automobile storage building



Augw 2, 1932. I w, s, RUGG 1,870,070

AUTOMOBILE STORAGE BUILDING Filed March 5, 1950 17 B C D 2; D/hp/ayEdam.

INVEN-TOR Wa/fer 651/99:

ATTCBRNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1932 warren STATES PATENT QFFECE W'ALTEB S.RUGG,-OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,.ASSIGNOB TO \N'ESTINGHGUSE -ELEGTRIG& MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMOBILESTORAGE BUILDING Application filed March 5,

l y invention relates to automobile storage buildings particularly toautomobile storage buildings having endlessbelt conveyors ularly, tomethods of moving automobiles into storage compartments and, moreparticularly, to methods of moving automobiles into storage spaces withthe aid of conveyor belts located in aisles narrower than the length ofany automobile.

In the ordinary type of automobile storage building or garage,automobiles are stored side by side in rows. In this method of storing,the automobile driver must maneuver his automobile back and forth,depending upon the available space between adjacent rows of automobiles,until he is in substantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axisof the storage space into which he intends to move the automobile andstore it. Considerable time is wasted in this manner, and there is theaccompanying danger of colliding with other automobiles and in-' juringthem in some manner, as by bending fenders or marring and scratchingthem.

One method which has been suggested for eliminating the hazard of themovement of an automobile into its storage place is to have anendless-belt conveyor, of a width corresponding to the length of thelongest automobile that might be placed thereon,

positioned in the aisle between the two rows of storage spaces. In thismethod of storing, an automobile is driven upon the endless conveyor atone end of the building, moved laterally by the conveyor until inalinement with a selected storage space into which it is desired to bemoved and then, subsequently, driven into the storage space ed theendless belt conveyor, under its own power.

Another suggestion to eliminate the hazard of movement of an automobileinto a storage space inan automobile storage building similar to thatpreviously described is to provide a truck or low platform on wheels ofa size suillcient to hold the largest standard automobile constructed,which is movable back and forth in the aisle between rows of storagespaces. The automobile is driven directly upon the truclnin a directionparallel to the long axis of the storage spaces, the truck 1930. SerialNo. 433,300.

' tat-ed until the automobile is substantially parallel to the long axisof the storage spaces, the truck is moved through the aisle until it isin alinement with a vacant storage space, and the automobile is thendriven directly from the truck into that space.

All these methods of storing may be simple and practical but they allhave the dis advantage of requiring an aisle between adjacent rows ofstoring spaces which is wider than the length of the longest automobileto be stored. The disadvantage of the wide aisle is, of course,-that aconsiderable percentage of the floor space is required for the movementof the automobiles which serves no useful storage purpose.

My invention enables the construction of an automobile storage buildingof the type described, in which, however, the aisle between adjacentrowsof storage spaces is narrower than the length of any automobile to bestored in the building and thus eliects the maximum etiiciency ofutilization of the floor space or, stated in another way, permits thestoring of a greater number of automobiles in the same floor space asthat required in previous automobile storage buildings.

It is, therefore, the object of my invention to provide an automobilestorage building having a plurality of rows of storage spaces.

with an aisle between adjacent rows which is narrower than the length ofany automobile to be stored in the automobile storage building, wherebya maximumeiiiciency of utilization of floor space is secured.

Another object of my invention is to provide an endless conveyor in eachaisle and a suitable control therefor, for aiding in positioning anautomobile at an angle to the aisle whereby it is possible to have anaisle between adjacent rows of storage spaces which is narrower than thelength of any automobile to be stored in the building.

Another object of my invention is to dis close a method of turning anautomobile at an angle with respect to the aisle between adjacent rowsof storage spaces with the aid of an endless conveyor in the aisle.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part explained in thefollowing specification when. taken with the accompanying drawing;wherein,

The single figure is a diagrammatic floor plan view of an automobilestorage building, with an endless conveyor in the aisle between adjacentrows of storage spaces, and a suitable electrical control systemtherefor.

It will be seen that my invention comprises an automobile storagebuilding structure 1 having storage spaces therein disposed in rowsdesignated by reference characters A, B, C and D. Row A comprises aplurality of spaces 2 to 7, inclusive, the row B comprises storagespaces 8 to 13, inclusive, the row (1 comprises storage spaces let to19, inclusive, and the row D comprises storage spaces 20 to 25,inclusive. The front central part of the building may be utilized asdisplay room 26, while another may be enclosed. to constitute an oflice27.

Between the rows A and B, there is an aisle 28 narrower than the lengthof any automobile to be stored in the building, and an endless conveyor29 therein, which is of ordinary construction and extends from the frontof the building to the back thereof and moves past all the storingspaces in the two rows A- and B. This endless conveyor is wide enough toaccommodate only the width of an automobile and has its top runway on alevel with the surrounding floor, the crevices intervening between theconveyor and the surrounding floor being so small as not to inter ferewith the movement of an automobile from the conveyor to the floor, orvice versa.

A motor 30 drives the endless-belt conveyor 29. The control system forthe driving motor 30 will be subsequently described.

Adjacent to one end of the conveyor 29 is the entrance doorway 31. Thisdoorway may be of any standard construction desired and suitable for thebuilding itself. At the back of the building, adjacent to the oppositeend of the conveyor 29 is an exit doorway in the building structure 2,which is similar in construction to the doorway 31.

Between the rows C and D or storing spaces is an aisle 33 ofsubstantially ie same dimensions as aisle 28, and has located therein anendless conveyor 3% similar to the endless conveyor 29. A motor 63drives conveyor 34: in a manner similar to that effected by the motor 30for the endless conveyor 29. A front entrance doorway 36 in the buildingstructure is located adjacent to one end of the conveyor 34,, and a rearexit doorway 37 is located adjacent to the opposite end of the conveyor34.

The endless conveyor 29 is driven by the motor 30, which may be ofstandard construction (as, for example, an induction motor of and Bwhere an attendant can have a good view of all automobiles entering orleaving the storage spaces in those rows. A forward-direction relay 38is actuated by the push button F30, and a reverse-direction re lay 39 isactuated by the reverse-directionpush button R30. Actuation of eitherrelay or relay 39 supglies current to the motor to cause the motor torotate in the one or the other direction.

The closing of the contact members a of the push-button switch F30closes the energizing circuit through the coil lO of the relay 38 asfollows: from line conductor L1, through conductors l1 and contactmembers a of the push-button switch F30, conductor l3, coil $0 of therelay 38, conductor 44, and interlock contact members (Z on the relay39, conductors l5 and -l6 to line conductor L2. Contact members (Z ofthe relay 39, being normally closed for the deenergized position of thatrelay, permit the closing of the circuit through coil 40, However,should the contact members (Z of relay 39 be open, as they are when thecoil 47 of reversing relay 39 is energized, the circuit through the coill0 cannot be completed, and, therefore, the relay 38 cannot operate ifthe relay 39 is already energized. Contact member (Z of relay 38performs a similar function for coil 4:7 of relay 39 and thus relays 38and 39 are so interlocked that neither can be operated once the otherhas been energized. The energization of coil 40 of relay 38 closes thenormally open contact members a, b, c and c of that relay and opensnormally closed contact members d of that relay. The motor 30 is thusconnected to the three-phase supply lines L1, L2 and L3 follows:

The circuit to one phase vinding of the motor 30 extends from the lineconductor L1, through conductor 48, contact members (Z of the relay 38and conductors 4-9 and 50, to one of the terminals of the motor 30.

The circuit to another phase of the motor 30 extends from line conductorL2, through conductor 51, contact members 5 of the relay 38, conductors52 and 53, to another terminal of the motor 30.

The circuit to the third phase of the motor 30 extends from lineconductor L3, through conductor 5a, contact members a of the relay 38,conductors and 56, to the terminal of the third phase of the motor 30.

As long as the push-button switch F30 is when their relays areenergized.

held in, the motor 30 will continue to rotate and move the endlessconveyor 29 in a forward direction, that is, a direction toward the exit32. It will be thus understood that a very small movement of the endlessconveyor 29 is obtainable by momentarily closing the push-button switchF30, whereby a so-called inching movement is obtained.

WVhen it is desired to .efiect a reverse move-.

a, ment of the endless conveyor 29, that is, a

movement of the conveyor toward the en trance 31, the reversingpush-button switch B30 is pressed. Assuming that relay 38 isdeenergized, the closing of the push-button switch R30 closes theenergizing circuit through the coil l7 of the relay 39 as follows: fromline conductor Ll, through conductor tl, contact members a of thereversing push-button switch R30, conductor 57, coil 4:7 oi the relay39, conductor 58, contact members (Z of the relay 38. and conductor 46,to.

the line conductor L2.

Relay 39, when energized, closes its normally open contact members a, band to i supply current from the supply lines to the and, therefore, ofthe conveyor 29, this being necessary to prevent collision of anautomobile with the side of the storage space into which it has beenpartially moved, a mag netic brake 59 is associated with the shaft oithe motor 30, and is automatically set on release of the push-buttonswitches F and R30. The magnetic brake is of a common type which isnormally retained in a brakingposition by a spring (not shown) and isreleased from the braking position against the force of the spring by amagnet 60 which isenergized upon actuation of either or" the push-buttonswitches R30 or F30, in a manner to be later described. This brakecomprises essentially a drum 61 suitably attached to the shaft of motor30 and a brake shoe 62 engaging it and held in a braking position by aspring (not shown). A magnet coil 60 is suitably mounted, with respectto the brake shoe 62, so that, when the magnet coil 60 is energized, theshoe 62 is moved away from the drum 61. The magnet coil 60 is energizedthrough contact members 0 of either of the relays 38 and 39 which closeTherefore, when either of these relays is energized, the brake isreleased, and when these relays are deenergized, the brake is set.

Thus, the use of this: brake insures the immediate stoppin of theendless conveyor 29 upon the release of either of the push buttons F30and R30.

The motor 63 for the endless conveyor 34 is controlled by aforward-direction relay 64 and reverse-direction relay 65 actuated, re-

spectively, by push-button switches F63 and B63 in a manner like thatdescribed for the motor 30 and its associated control system and,therefore, the control for motor 63 will not be described herein. Thepush-button switches F63 and R63 are located in a convenient positionnear or in the aisle between rows C and D so that an attendant has agood view'of all automobiles entering or leaving the storage spaces inthose rows.

A magnetic brake 66 similar to that described for motor 30 is providedfor motor 63.

In order to further understand the operation of my invention, let it beassumed that an automobile 67 is enteringthe building structure throughthe entrance 31. The automobile is represented at four different stagesof the storing operation, designated by Boman numerals I, II, III andIV, respectively. The Roman numeral one (I) indicates the firstposition'of an automobile in its movement to a particular storage space,here as sumed to be storage space 3. The automobile subsequently moves,under its own power, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor29, the conveyor being stationary at the time. A second position, suchas subsequently occurs, is indicated by that desig nated by the Romannumeral two (II). The automobile continues moving in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis of'the endless conveyor 29 until itreaches the entrance to storage space 3. The aisle 28 between the rows Aand B is so narrow that it is impossible for the driver to drivedirectly into the storage space'3 without maneuvering back and forth. Atbest, he can only position the automobile in an angular position withrespect to the longitudinalaxisof the storing space 3. This position isindicated by the Romanv numeral three (III). The driver of theautomobile stops it in position III and leaves the emergency brake 06?.An attendant then presses the forward-direction push button switch F30,which causes the endless conveyor 29 to move slowly in a forwarddirection, that is, in a direction toward the rear exit 32, as long asthe push button F30 is depressed. WVhen the attendant sees that the rearend of the automobile has been swung through an arc suiiicient to placethe automobile in the position indicated by Roman numeral tour (IV), inwhich position the longitudinal axis of the automobile is insul'istantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the;storage space 3, he stops the conveyor'by releasing the push button F30;The driver then subsequently drives t mobile directly into the storagespace 3 and stops it in a proper position therein.

Automobiles in their stored position are indicated by the automobiles 68and 69.

In removing an automobile from storage, the reverse order of operationis eiiected, that is, the driver backs the automobile out of the he autostoring space 3 until the rear wheels are on the endless conveyor 29,and the automobile is in a position corresponding to that indicated byRoman numeral IV and stops it, leaving the emergency brake oli. lheattendant then pushes the reversing push-button switch R30, which causesthe endless conveyor 29 to move in a reverse di rection, that is, indirection toward the entrance V'hen the automobile reaches the positionindicated by Roman numeral III, the attendant releases the push button29, and the conveyor stops. The driver then backs the automobile throughan arc until the lmigitudinal axis of the automobile is in asubstantially parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the endlessconveyor 29, in a position similar to that indicated by the Romannumeral 11. The automobile is then in such position that the driver candrive the automobile directly out of the building through the exit 32.

All of the stora 'e spaces 2 to 13, inclusive, are similarly filled andvacated with automobiles.

T he storing spaces 14 to 25, inclusive, are tilled and vacated byautomobiles assisted to their proper storage spaces by the use of theendless conveyor an, in a manner similar to that described for theendless conveyor 29.

.t will thus be seen that my invention comprises an automobile storagebuilding having a plurality of adjacent rows of storage spaces with anaisle narrower than the length of any automobile to be stored in thebuilding disposed between adjacent rows of storing spaces, each aislehaving a conveyor therein, of a width suflicient to accommodate only thewidth of an automobile, the conveyor adapted to assist an automobileinto the storage spaces by swinging one end of it through an arc. t isunderstood that the structure of my invention may be modified withoutavoiding the soirit of my invention, and I, therefore, wish to belimited to the details shown herein only so far as is defined by theappended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an automobile storage structure, an

. aisle having a width less than the length of any automobile to bestored in the structure, a plurality of automobile storage spacesopening thereinto, endless conveyor means in said aisle for engaging andmovim only one end of an automobile through an arc to position theautomobile at an angle to the direction of movement of said endlessconveyor means, whereby an automobile may be drivon into any of the saidstorage spaces.

2. In an automobile storage structure, an aisle having a width less thanthe length of any automobile to be stored in the structure,

a plurality of automobile storage spaces opening thereinto, endlessconveyor means in said aisle movable 1n either of two oppositedirections past all of said storage spaces for engaging and moving onlyone end of an automobile through an arc to position the automobile at anangle to the direction of movement of said endless conveyor means,whereby an automobile may be driven into and out of any of the saidstorage spaces.

3. In an automobile storage structure, an aisle having a width less thanthe length of any automobile to be stored in the structure, a pluralityof automobile storage spaces opening thereinto, endless conveyor meansin said aisle movable in either of two opposite directions past all ofsaid storage spaces for engaging and moving only one end of an automobile through an arc to position the automobile at an angle to thedirection of movement of said endless conveyor means, whereby anautomobile may be driven into and out of any of the said storage spaces,motive means for said endless conveyor means, and control means for saidmotive means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th dayof February,

WALTER S. RUGG.

